Residents must have a forum for voicing concerns without fear of intimation or retaliation. Residents are at a vulnerable state: They are no longer students, yet they are not yet competent in their specialty. They must be able to freely voice concerns without it affecting their current or future status.

Sponsoring institutions deal with this requirement in different ways. Some develop a formal house staff association that meets regularly to discuss issues and concerns as well as to create a social community for trainees. Some organizations provide a budget for the group, while others charge dues. In addition to providing advocacy, the group may hold social functions and educational seminars. The house staff association may have formal positions, such as president, vice president, and secretary that take responsibility for ensuring the group’s concerns are heard. In other sponsoring institutions, the residents may simply hold informal town hall-type meetings.

The resident forum can be a great advocate for GME and give the residents a voice. Residents who are graduate medical education committee representatives are expected to take information back to the resident forum and other residents for distribution and implementation. The resident forum can be used to get residents on board with institutional initiatives, which is important for their personal development and the health of the institution. The group can also serve as a social outlet for residents who are from out of town or who do not have a family support group readily available.

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